Chicago Phillips boys basketball coach is told to turn in ‘equipment, keys and fobs’

QUINCY — A boys basketball coach whose team’s state championship season began with a trip to Blue Devil Gym last winter may not be returning to the sideline.

Chicago Wendell Phillips coach Paris Martin appears to have been fired.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Martin received an email Tuesday afternoon from Phillips principal Rashad Talley requesting the coach “turn in all Phillips and (Chicago Public Schools) equipment, keys and fobs.”

Martin told the Sun-Times, “I guess that has to mean I’m not the coach anymore. That’s all I’ve heard from Phillips or CPS.”

Last winter, Martin led the Wildcats to a 25-9 record and the Class 2A state championship, beating Benton 54-47 in the title game. Phillips suffered a 69-58 loss to Quincy High School on Thanksgiving night, but rebounded to win back-to-back games against Springfield Lanphier and Tinley Park to finish the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament with a 2-1 record to kickstart its season.

The Wildcats’ state title was the program’s first crown since winning the Class AA championship in 1975.

Martin has coached at Phillips the past two seasons, although he claims the CPS has never paid him nor cleared him to coach. All CPS coaches must pass a background check. He told the Sun-Times he has filled out the appropriate paperwork multiple times when requested, but CPS officials have never completed the process.

Earlier this month, Martin filed a lawsuit against CPS, Phillips, Phillips athletic director James Daniels IV, Talley, Phillips operations manager Shelonda Mackey and Phillips girls basketball coach Larry Stokes in the Northern District of Illinois’ Eastern Division citing mental anguish and lack of pay.

Tuesday morning, Martin started a GoFundMe page to pay for championship rings for his players.

Tuesday afternoon, he apparently was fired.

‘‘I don’t know if this is retaliation for that or what,’’ Martin told the Sun-Times. ‘‘I believe (the Phillips administration) wanted to dim our light from day one. That’s what I’ve experienced the whole time there.’’